Browse Sections

• Business
• Education
• Special reports

Parish priest turns into a Mr Softee for silver celebration

Gareth Parker
29/ 6/2005

YOUNGSTERS at Our Lady and St Paul's had it licked when their teachers threw a party for Father James Ryan to celebrate his silver anniversary in the parish.

After celebrating a special Mass, Father Ryan, who is also chairman of governors, was presented with gifts from staff and children at the Sutherland Road school.

And to say a big thank you Father Ryan, who hails from Ireland, turned a Mr Softee into a Mr Money Bags when he treated all the 270 pupils to an ice cream.

Unknown to the school, Father Ryan had arranged for Heywood firm Granelli's to turn up laden with the finest ice creams and lollies for the thirsty pupils.

"I thought it would be a nice surprise for the pupils and they certainly enjoyed the treat, clearing the van out," he said.

Peter McCaber, who has run Heywood's famous Granelli's for the past 37 years, said that although he took the delivery in his stride, he was still glad he had wife, Pauline, to help.

"It took us about half an hour to serve all the pupils, who were brilliant, really well behaved and a credit to their school and their parents."

Apart from the school celebration, there was also another ceremony for Father Ryan attended by 49 other priests from across the diocese, as well as his parishioners who presented him with a cheque for £3,700.

"I'll be using some of the money to fly over to Australia to see my sister, Sheila, who moved to Sydney back in 1965," he said.

Ordained in 1955 in Kilkenny, Ireland, he came to Our Lady and St Paul's from St Joseph's, in Bury.